Completed [Aylasa Caves] Craziness in the Caves (Sylvette and Asen)

[Asen]

Asen, through the fog in her mind, felt the impact of the necklace on her belly. She grasped for it groggily, her hand closing into a fist around the piece of metal. She lifted it, eyes cracking open. Eh? What's this?

She rubbed her thumb over the cool material in an attempt to recognize the shape. A... tree? Is this a tree?

The half-Dhani held it closer to her face, but her eyes refused to focus. Her brow furrowed in mild confusion, then she relaxed and set her hand down. Her other hand crossed over her stomach and wrapped the chain around her wrist in such a way that it wouldn't come off easily.

She suddenly realized that Orin had said something to her before he dropped the necklace in her lap, and was now attempting to pull her to her feet by her shoulders. Asen's head lolled to the side, the girl not wanting to get up. Lemme sleep, damnit.

Still, the young man prevailed and the squire stood. Her legs were weak, and she felt sick. She had to put her arm across Orin's shoulders and place all her weight on him just to not fall.

Asen forced her eyes open. Her world spun and her legs gave out, dropping to her knees. The pain of bone hitting rock didn't make it through the blinding headache. Her entire body shook. She was pale, paler than normal, and when she looked up at Orin she saw two.

The half-Dhani managed to get her feet under her again, leaning heavily on the young man. "My... my armor it- it's over... Over that way," she mumbled, shifting her arm to point in the general direction of her equipment.

The petch is wrong with me?

|Speech| |Text|

[Orin Fenix]

When Sylvette threw herself at Orin’s back and started sobbing, Orin felt terrible. The reflected emotion he was feeling from her wasn’t helping either, since it simply fed into his own sense of guilty about his statement. He paused, turned, and gave Sylvette a quick but intense hug. ”Don’t cry because you know that if you start crying than I’ll start crying. You might be getting soft but I already am soft and you know that.”

Orin brushed his hand through her hair, not even caring that she was still naked. It would normally have bothered him, but offering her comfort was much more important at the moment. ”It’s a deal. And you never make me mad, it’s just, I want us to be partners and friends not anything else, anything more or less. I promise I will never threaten you with that again. Especially with the promise of your claws and bites behind it.” Orin forgot that though Sylvette was old enough to be showing the signs of womanhood she was still a child in so many ways. It was his job to shelter and protect her and love her. So, he’d keep his vow as long as she kept hers.

Orin returned his attention to Asen. He was about to tell the two women to make nice, but then Asen began stirring. Orin was glad to see that she was able to struggle to her feet. However, his relief was short lived as she crashed to the floor, banging her knees in the process. Orin made to catch her but she slipped through his fingers and he simply knelt on the floor himself. Oh shyke this is bad. This is very very bad. Luckily, Orin had gained a slight mastery of his words and he managed to keep his thoughts to himself. He really should have known better than to leave Asen alone with a head injury. Gesturing Sylvette to lean close, Orin whispered in her ear. ”I hate to split us up again, but you’re better in the woods than I am. I need you to find her patrol and bring them back here. I’ll monitor her and keep her from sleeping or passing out. Think you can do that? I’m counting on you.” Orin hoped that Sylvette would be able to swallow her dislike long enough to go and get some help.

Without waiting for Sylvette’s reply, Orin starting speaking to Asen, Orin smiled. ”I know, you mentioned your armor was over there. Why don’t you just sit there and let one of us go look for it?” That would give Sylvette the perfect excuse to leave and not arouse Asen’s suspicions as to Orin’s worry for her. When Orin had received a concussion on New Year’s, Lorden had been kind enough to carry him to Soothing Waters and Devi had gone with to make sure nothing bad happened to Orin along the way. Orin remembered only the very basics of caring for someone with a head wound. Don’t let them sleep, and keep their head steady as possible. But Asen needed medical attention and she needed it fast.

Unfortunately, Orin wasn’t skilled enough to provide that attention himself. He could keep her alive until Sylvette came back. If Orin had been stronger and uninjured, he would’ve attempted what Lorden had, and cradled Asen in his arms and taken her to the healers. But that wouldn’t work for a variety of reasons. First of all, Orin was incredibly weak compared to Lorden. And Orin’s arm was probably unable to support a large amount of weight for any significant amount of time. It wouldn’t do any good to incapacitate both of them and seeing as Asen and Orin were the same height, trying to pick her up would be a terrible idea. Finally, unlike the night where Orin had rattled his brain, they were in the wilderness, far away from everyone. So Orin’s options here were severely limited.

Orin figured he should keep talking and hopefully give Asen something to focus on other than her pain. ”So Asen, when did you become a squire? And I’m sure you get asked this a lot, but maybe we know some people in common? I know a few squires and I think one full knight, Ser Lorden. And Ser Kevith, but he’s retired now and owns The Rearing Stallion. Oh! That’s where I work I cook. Do you know how to cook? It’s just fine if you don’t I just wonder strange things sometimes, well, don’t you?” The contents of his speech weren’t anywhere near as important as the sound of his voice. If she was as bad off as Orin thought, she wouldn’t be much up to responding anyway. As he let himself ramble on Orin kept a careful watch on the cave entrance and the saviors he was praying would come.

[Sylvette Sciath]

”It’s a deal." the rest of what Orin said was minute in comparison to these three words. The fact that Orin had threatened to leave her was possibly the scariest thing she could imagine happening. and his promise to never make such a threat again heartened her. Even though she hadn't been bonded to Orion for very long she already felt closer to him than she did anyone else she had ever known. So when Orin gave his order Sylvette replied with a smile and nod before bounding off to find the patrol of knights. If Sylvette's memory Served her correctly Asen had approached from the left of the cave entrance when they had all come running in, so perhaps if she went in that direction she would be able to find the knights that the woman would be in patrol with. running at an even pace so at to not exhaust herself, After a few minutes Sylvette's ears picked up the tell tale sounds of horse feet tramping along, Zeroing in on the sound Sylvette picked up her pace until she came around a rather large tree to come face to face with a horse. the horse seemingly just as startled as Sylvette let out a startle whiny as they collided, knocking Sylvette to the ground. landing ungraciously on her bum Sylvette looked up at the rider of the horse and he at her. the man spoke first, saying "Girl, you all right? what'r you doin out here, and by Sylir, Where are your clothes??" gathering her thought looking dumbly at the knight before getting her words in Order. "Kriital, Sessasch--enaasen, Hurt head, this way." each word coming out in between ragged breath from Sylvtte's running and subsequent collision with a horse. Recognition dawning on the knights face he didn't ask any other questions he merely pulled Sylvette onto the horse behind him, easily lifting her onto the beast with a single arm . "Well then girly, where is she" Pointing In the direction of the cave o save her words and breath, she indicated the way they should go. and with that the man took off without warning leaving Sylvette to cling to it's rider for fear of falling off. It'd probably take a minute at least to arrive back to the cave at the rate they were moving by Sylvette's reckoning.

[Asen]

Asen could feel herself crumbling. The edges of her thoughts were fraying into darkness, black spots appearing in her vision. She blinked them away as best as she could. Fear began to eat away at her. She was afraid, so terribly afraid that she was dying. She'd never had a concussion before, just immediate knock-outs that she always woke up from.

No, this was slow. It was a slow process, and it terrified her. Her arm slipped from Orin's shoulders and she collapsed to her knees again, barely catching herself with outstretched hands.

Shyke... I'm petched.

She heard Orin talking through the fog in her mind and focused on it. Her arms shook, her legs shook, everything shook. With an immense amount of effort she managed to push herself in such a way that she'd fall against Orin. It might've been awkward, having a barely-conscious girl prop herself up against him, but it was necessary.

"Lorden... I- I know 'im, yeah. Kissed him," she mumbled. In her state of being it was difficult for her to tell the difference between what she said and what she thought.

"Rearin' Stall'on. Yeah."

I gotta stay awake, damnit! Gotta stay awake... Until the patrol gets here...

The half-Dhani struggled to focus on something. Her head was pounding, making it hard to hear thoughts, let alone someone's voice. Orin had stopped talking. She narrowed in on the feel of his clothes against her skin, and the cool stone under her fingers.

It wasn't enough, though. Asen's will gave out and she slumped against the cook, unconscious.

|Speech| |Text|

[Orin Fenix]

Sylvette darted off to do as Orin asked and Orin breathed a sigh of relief. The two of them, Sylvette and Orin that is, weren’t equipped to handle major injuries or Kriital or danger of any kind. Orin was seriously starting to regret having ever come out here, seeing as so much pain had come from it. Best-case scenario would be if the patrol was already out looking for Asen and Sylvette found them nearby. Orin refused to think about the alternative. He just had to cling to the belief that all this would turn out fine and with a happy ending.

Orin could tell that Asen wasn’t really paying attention to Orin’s statements. Her replies were vague and showed a lack of focus that Orin was afraid he knew all too well. At this point, it seemed pretty clear to Orin that Asen had a concussion and a bad one at that. They needed to get her to Soothing Waters as fast as they possibly could. Orin hoped that her patrol had horses. He was almost certain that Knights were required to ride. While the bouncing and jostling might not be the best for Asen’s head, the speed gained would hopefully more than make up for it. Orin thought they still had time as long as Sylvette and whoever she might have found returned soon. Of course, just as this thought passed through Orin’s mind, Asen passed out completely.

”No. You will not die on my watch, you hear me? Wake up Asen. Please just wake up.” Orin was sobbing with fear at this point, terrified for the woman’s life. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, and flat out refused to be responsible for the death of anyone. Orin bowed his head and began praying. Every little bit would help now. ”Priskil give me the strength and the hope to see this through, Rak’keli preserve her, and Dira stay your hand. It is not her time yet. Not if I have anything to say about it.” With that, Orin levered Asen off the ground by holding his arms under her shoulders. He took a tick to adjust to the weight then began dragging her so that her heels scraped against the ground. However, as her head lolled forward, Orin realized that this would never work.

Orin remembered the importance of supporting the head from his own injury. Presumably Orin would have to do the same here. Steeling himself, Orin twisted so that Asen’s head was cradled in the crook of his arm. Finally, he swung her up until he was carrying her. He staggered a few steps, but lucking managed to catch himself before they both went down. His wounded arm predictably exploded into pain. Orin gritted his teeth and blinked his eye against the sudden tears. He took one slow and agonizing step forward, and then another. Orin knew he couldn’t keep this up for long, but he refused to sit idly by. He would make this right if he killed himself in the process. Two more steps brought him almost the cave entrance and another two brought them into the fresh air. ”Feel the sun on your skin Asen. Feel it? You’re going to be just fine. I’ll get you to safety.” By this time Orin’s arms were starting to burn, but he refused to put his precious burden down. Wistfully, almost, Orin imagined he could hear approaching hoof beats, but he was almost certain it was merely an idle daydream of his. Orin knew he couldn’t be that lucky.

[Sylvette Sciath]

SYlvette did not like riding the horse at all, in fact of it wasn't for her death grip on the knight she doubted she would have been able to hang on to the beast. Horses were simply much to big an animal to want to be around unless you had a heck of a good reason. Hopefully Orin would not find a reason to ride such beasts in the future. Coming around another bend Sylvette pointed out the way again holding on for dear life with her other hand, As the knight and the others in the patrol following had veered off course to the left slightly Steering them again Sylvette decided that no she would never again willingly ride a horse, the jaunting beast was certainly trying to shake her to death. After another couple turns and the horse jumping over a fallen log nearly removing Sylvette entirely from the horse. After only a few more seconds though, they came upon the cave to find that Orin had pulled the girl out of the cave and into the sunlight. Upon the horses stopping as the knights found their comrade Sylvette quickly dismounted the horse landing ungracefully on the ground nearly falling again before running to Orin who's distress she could feel emanating from him. Standing behind him now Sylvette peered at Asen before tugging on Orin's sleeve. "Orin, is she gonna be ok?" Worry emanated from Sylvette, Which was rather curious to her, before the thought of someone dying hadn't bothered her it was only natural that things that live would die, but Being around Orin had changed her perspective, she had grown to value life more and more so much so that the thought of unnecessary death that scared Sylvette. So even though Sylvettes view of the woman was not exactly the most positive, sylvettedidn't wish for any harm to come to her either. Sylvette had managed to get the knights, the woman's friends to her, and that was the best she could do for her though. Sylvette resolved to better learn how to help people in the future. Helplessness was not a good feeling. It reminded her of the time she had eaten a bad mushroom when she had been smaller, leaving a similarly distasteful feeling in the pit of her stomach

[Orin Fenix]

The sight of approaching knights and squires was like a dream come true. Orin had only managed to get a few more steps outside the cave before their arrival. As they came in with a flurry of horses and shouted orders, Orin quickly found a knight taking the burden of Asen from his arms. He almost cried with relief. ”Thank Priskil you found us. We were fighting a Kriital and she showed up and basically saved our life. Its corpse is in the cave.” One of the patrol members darted off to check. Orin, however, wasn’t done. ”She, she hit her head I don’t know for sure but I think she has a nasty concussion and in my opinion she needs to be seen by a healer at the Soothing Waters as soon as possible.” Orin’s voice came out in a rush but he hoped he was coherent enough for the knights to understand.

And seeing as Asen was quickly being loaded onto a horse and strapped down, riding double with another member of the order Orin figured he’d made his point succinctly and clearly enough. ”Thanks so, we’ll take it from here.” Her voice was gruff but kind. She turned smartly on her heel and swung herself up into the saddle. Patting her horse, she signed something at the other knights that Orin didn’t understand at all, but soon enough they went off in a gallop. ”I’ll get her armor and whatnot, I promise!” Orin called after them but they were gone and he didn’t know if they heard him.

Allowing himself to feel the stress that this entire situation had been building up, Orin finally sagged. His muscles burned and his cut throbbed. However, Sylvette seemed to need some reassurance and Orin turned to her. He pulled her into an impromptu hug, not caring that they were both covered in sweat, blood and other nastiness from the fight and the caves or that Sylvette wasn’t wearing clothes. ”I think she’ll be fine. We got her to safety in time. You did brilliantly.” Orin gave Sylvette another squeeze before letting her go. This had been an insane day for them. Perhaps Orin should refrain from going on any more expeditions of this kind until he had picked up a few more skills that could save his life. Otherwise the chances of him ending up dead were significantly higher than simply staying safe inside the city walls. With a final glance back at the caves, Orin put his back to them resolutely. ”Come on, Sylvette. Let’s go home.”

[Devi]

Your Grades have arrived! Orin Skills: Land Navigation: 1XP Acrobatics: 1XP Leadership: 3XP Persuasion: 5XP Tactics: 1XP Weapon Skills: Dagger: 1XP Socilization: 4XP Medicine: 4XP Negotiation: 2XP Intimidation: 1XP Observation: 1XP Lores: Sylvette: Bonded deeply and permanently to me. Tactics: Use of Distractions. Medicine: Use a tourniquet to stem bleeding. Asen: Squire with an unpronounceable name. Items Gained: Kriital's Claw Kriital's Beak Regular Backpack Injuries Sustained: Cut to arm from Kriital Beak - will need treatment to avoid infection. Healing time 10 days - less with medical attention or healing. Comments: Lovely thread, you developed a lot of different skills here. The way Orin's starting to structure the things he says, assign purpose to his words, is especially lovely to see considering the way he babbles when he's nervous. It's also great to see the bond continuing to develop with Sylvette. Great job! Sylvette Skills: Acrobatics - 1XP Running - 2XP Unarmed Combat: 1XP Medicine: 1XP Intimidation: 1XP Socialization: 1XP Investigation: 1XP Scavenging: 1XP Persuasion: 1XP Rhetoric: 1XP Land Navigation: 1XP Lores: Orin: What it means to be bonded. Medicine: Cleaning a wound. Orin: Too nice to people. Kriital: Big bird, tastes horrible. Asen: Squire, full name Se sa che naa sen. Items Gained: 2 sets of Bagh Nakh Comments: Lovely writing, I always find Sylvette's feline opinions quite amusing (and it makes your lores quite fun to write!). As I mentioned in Orin's comments, it's great to see the bond starting to develop. I think it'll be interesting to explore the breach forming between them and work through it (or not!) to change the relationship for the better (or worse!). Asen Skills: Tactics: 1XP Running: 1XP Socialization: 4XP Acrobatics: 1XP Observation: 2XP Intimidation: 1XP Rhetoric: 2XP Lores: Running: I can run faster without any armor. Kriital: Large, predatory bird. Tactics: Limit the enemy’s mobility. Sylvette: Kelvic (ginger cat), bonded to Orin. Orin: “Just Friends” with Sylvette. Items Gained: Silver Necklace with Oak Tree Pendant. Injuries Sustained: Minor cuts and bruises to face - Healing time 7 days, less with medical attention. Serious Concussion - Semi/Unconscious until medical attention is sought. With a healer's attention only minor headaches for 5 days. With just a doctor/herbalist's attention major headaches and confusion for 5 days and minor headaches for a further 5 days. Shield Points: +5 for helping citizens of Syliras. Comments: I must admit it's an interesting change to read about a bit of prejudice. It's easy to write someone who gets along with everyone but much more difficult to consistently keep up a controversial view. It proves you're really getting into Asen's mindset and will make for some great development as you go along. Good stuff! Let me know if you have any questions and don't forget to edit your post in the Grade Request Thread. Happy Writing!